Four Runs Scored in Last Two Innings for Ninth Straight Win

FAIRFAX, VA - The Colonials rallied for a 7-6 victory in 10 innings over George Mason in a non-conference game Tuesday afternoon at Raymond H. "Hap" Spuhler Field. George Washington sophomore Jeff Fertitta (Baltimore, MD/Loyola Blakefield) drove in three runs in the final two innings, including the game-winner in the 10th. The win marks GW's ninth straight to improve to 28-13, while George Mason lost its second straight contest as it fell to 22-20.

The Colonials took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as senior Travis Crowder (Manassas, VA/Osbourn) led off the game with his second home run of the year. George Mason senior Brian Anderson answered with his seventh home run in the second and, after George Washington scored an unearned run in the top of the fourth, the Patriots scored four runs in the bottom of the frame for a 5-2 lead. Sophomore Bruce Baldwin drove in the first run with a double, senior Adam Shorts brought home the second with a sacrifice fly and freshman Matt Cooksey and sophomore Jeff Palumbo had run-scoring singles to cap the inning. The Colonials made it 5-3 in the fifth as senior Mike Bassett (Paramus, NJ/ Paramus) scored on a throwing error, but Mason pushed the margin back to 6-3 in the bottom of the inning as sophomore Kyle Barrett singled and scored on a single by junior Mike Taylor. The score remained the same for three scoreless innings when the Colonials fought back. Trailing 6-3 heading into the top of the ninth inning, George Washington junior tri-captain Chris Barry (Orchard Park, NY/Canisius) led off with a single and scored as Fertitta drilled a two-run home run, his seventh of the season, to straight-away center field. Freshman Anthony Raglani (Indiana, PA/Indiana) tied the score on the next pitch as he hit his fourth homer of the year to right field. In the 10th, Bassett led off with a double and scored one later on a single by Fertitta.

Senior lefthander Mike O'Connor (Ellicott City, MD/Mt. St. Joe's) earned the victory for the Colonials with two solid innings in relief, while junior Todd Simo took the loss for the Patriots.

George Washington will visit Towson Wednesday, April 24 at 3 p.m. The Colonials will then host Richmond over the weekend, April 27 and 28, for an Atlantic 10 Conference tri-series starting at noon on both days.